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(Times of India Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) NAVI MUMBAI: A 38-year-old software professional, Abhishek Mukherjee, was badly beaten up at a traffic signal in Vashi leading to a fractured forearm, only because he had objected to the loud honking by the driver of an SUV.

Mukherjee has now undergone a surgery for the displaced fracture of his left forearm bones, which are now fixed with titanium plates. Doctors said he will take at least four months to recover fully, for which the medical expenses will amount to nearly Rs 3.5 lakh.

Vashi police have arrested the three accused -- Preetpal H Singh Sandhu (40), Sahil Anilkumar Dogra (20) and Digvijay Singh (22). They are all residents of Punjabi Colony in Ulhasnagar.

"On Friday evening, I was going home in an autorickshaw from Vashi railway station to Koparkhairane. At the Shivaji Chowk junction, a young driver of a white coloured SUV (MH05 BR 79) started honking so as to urge the motorists in front to break the red signal. I simply requested him to stop honking as the signal will turn green soon," recalled Mukherjee.

This seemed to have angered the SUV driver, who now moved his vehicle a bit closer to the auto and started continuously blaring the horn. An exasperated Mukherjee then knocked at the car window to again asked him to stop honking.

"The three occupants of the car then came out on the road and publicly thrashed me, by first punching my face. No one helped me. I remember coming back to my senses after about 20 seconds, and tried to lift my shoe which had fallen down. To my horror, I saw my left arm dangling like a pendulum. That's when I realized that it was completely broken," said the victim.

Following an FIR, the police have booked the three accused, who quickly managed to secure bail.

"The police lodged the FIR under IPC section 325, which is bailable. I am urging the cops to book them under section 326 as I am sure they used a weapon while bashing me up. I had fainted, so could not recall much," he said. Vashi police is studying the CCTV video footage for more details.